With link aggregation you can combine multiple links into a single logical link between two Switches. You can bundle up to 8 neighboring Ethernet or SFP / SFP+ ports into one link aggregation group (LAG), thereby increasing bandwidth and throughput up to 8 fold. 

Link aggregation requires a network to be configured with firmware version 3.6 or newer.

Auto-detection of link aggregation

The Plasma Cloud console auto-detects when link aggregation is available, or any wiring changes affecting an existing link aggregation group occur. It will prompt an alert message to inform you. A new LAG is detected when two Switches are wired together through two or more neighboring ports. Neighboring ports are defined as ports located right next to each other (above, below, left or right). Once a potential LAG status change has been identified, you can manage it on the console.

Activate link aggregation

To activate link aggregation, you need to:

1. Wire together 2 Switches belonging to the same network on 2 or more neighboring ports of the same type (either Ethernet or SFP/SFP+);
2. Log into the Plasma Cloud console;
3. Select the organisation and network containing these two Switches from the top right menu;
4. Navigate to Switches in the main menu on the left;
5. Click on either of the Switches you just wired together in the Switch table;
6. Scroll down to Port Status. You will see a blue alert bar. Click on the Manage button;
7. A popup window appears. A colored frame highlights the ports that can be bundled into a LAG. Double-check that all ports have been set up correctly and then press Confirm to activate link aggregation;

The colored LAG frame will remain in the switch graphic. 

You can create up to 4 LAGs each consisting of 2 - 8 neighboring ports. Ethernet and SFP/SFP+ ports cannot be aggregated into a single group.

Extend link aggregation group

To extend the number of ports belonging to a LAG, first change the wiring on the Switches to your desired state. The Plasma Cloud console will auto-detect changes to the wiring and prompt an alert message.

Click on the alert message to gain a visual overview of the potential changes. Blinking frames indicate the ports that will be added to the existing LAG. 

Press confirm to update your LAG settings, or simply close the popup if you wish to maintain the status quo.

Reduce link aggregation group

To reduce the number of ports belonging to a LAG, first change the wiring on the Switches to your desired state. The Plasma Cloud console will auto-detect changes to the wiring and prompt an alert message.

Click on the alert message to gain a visual overview of the potential changes. Blinking frames indicate the ports that will be removed from the existing LAG. 

Press confirm to update your LAG settings, or simply close the popup if you wish to maintain the status quo.

To shrink a LAG consisting of 3 or more ports, remove a cable from one of the outer ports. Unplugging a cable located in the center of a LAG may result in deactivation of the whole LAG, as link aggregation is only available for neighboring ports.

Deactivate a link aggregation group

To deactivate a LAG, unplug the cables connecting two Switches so that no neighboring ports are linked to the same device.

The Plasma Cloud console will auto-detect the removal of cables and prompt an alert message.

Press confirm to delete LAG. You can re-enable link aggregation at any time by plugging the cables back in and following the steps mentioned above.

When configuring multiple link aggregation groups, each group will be assigned a distinct frame color for easy visual differentiation.